India: Minorities

Earl of Courtown Excerpts

Wednesday 2nd July 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

I think that—how shall I put this?—the nature of our relationship with the Government of India changes in accordance with the nature of our position in relation to these conversations. It is a judgment: are these things best progressed in the way that we would all like if we take a hard line as part of a trade agreement, or are they best progressed in other ways? It is all about getting the right outcome for our relationship and for human rights. It is a constant judgment. At the moment, we are dealing with the trade negotiation in a separate track to our conversations about human rights. It is slightly different when it comes to labour rights and the treatment of workers and other such issues. However, it is fair for the noble Lord to raise this, and it was fair for us to use, when in opposition, methods to raise our concerns that we may not feel we want to use in government.

[The Earl of Courtown (Con)]

My Lords, as the Minister said in her earlier answers, it is vital that His Majesty’s Government leverage their influence to try to ease tensions arising between communities. However, the Government have a more fundamental duty to make sure that those tensions are not imported into the United Kingdom. A Home Office report, commissioned by the Home Secretary, pointed out that Hindu nationalism was one of the most serious threats to domestic security. What is the Minister doing to prevent foreign nationalism becoming an internal threat?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

This is a matter of great concern and the Government are, as the noble Earl said, looking at this incredibly carefully, not just in relation to Hindu nationalism but other forms as well. We are concerned about this; we talk to colleagues in the Home Office, my noble friend the Faith Minister and other colleagues in the local government department as well. This is not something that we wish to see enacted on our streets, or indeed on social media, in the UK. We are vigilant and we will take steps as and when we need to.